Electro-Acupuncture (ElectroAcupuncture)

Electro-Acupuncture is an effective treatment or back pain, knee pain, shoulder problems and can also be used for internal medicine conditions (such as digestive or liver problems). As powerful addition to dry needling and traditional acupuncture, Electroacupuncture uses the same treatment points, however the needles are stimulated with a low electrical current (from a simple 9v battery). After acupuncture needles are placed at specific points, the needles are connected to a device that generates continuous but very low current using wires and small clips.

Electro-acupuncture devices are used to modulate the frequency and strength of the current being used. The settings on the electro machine can vary and will depend on the condition being treated. In order to complete the electrical circuit, electroacupuncture uses two needles at time and the current passes from one needle to the other and through the surrounding tissue. More than one pair of needles can be connected simultaneously, and treatment is usually given for about 20-30 minutes duration.

Electroacupuncture has a few advantages over basic acupuncture. One advantage is that a practitioner does not have to stimulate the needles after insertion. This is because the current applied to the needles stimulates the area continuously. Another advantage is that electroacupuncture can be employed without using needles with a technique called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS.

Electroacupuncture has been studied extensively for a variety of conditions. It has been proven to have pain relieving effects for muscle spasms. There also scientific proof of effectiveness for treatment of various neurological disorders. Other studies have examined the role of electro-acupuncture in treating skin conditions such as acne, kidney pain, and nausea caused by medications or pregnancy. Additionally, there is evidence that electrical stimulation of acupuncture points activates the endorphin system, which could lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease.

For obvious historical reasons, Electroacupuncture, is a more recent technique compared with traditional acupuncture. Modern electroacupuncture was developed in China around 1958, when acupuncturists began using it to improve their pain relief methods. Today, electroacupuncture is an increasingly popular form of treatment, and is used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine for a wide array of conditions.

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